The Quantum Leaper: How The Teleporter Came To Life

Though the technology appears to straddle the line between science and science fiction, the era of quantum teleportation has arrived. It's not the Star Trek--style beaming up of entire landing parties; the process operates at the subatomic level. What does that mean? Quantum teleportation, in short, is the transmission of characteristics--that is, the quantum state of a particular photon, or particle of light--from one place to another. While it falls short of a capability to beam people or objects to remote locations, it's much more than just sending a fax. The original is destroyed, but every one of its distinguishing features...